Bay TPO to hold second public comment meeting on rate hike

Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 12:17 PM.

Bay TPO staff has said the rate hike is necessary so the trolley won’t run a financial deficit. It also could ensure services aren’t cut.

“This is definitely a way to help the funding issues, but I also think there are very valid points on the part of the community on how it will affect them,” Keen said.

Keen, who only manages the trolley’s operations, said the general consensus among the Bay TPO staff is that the one-day pass and the 31-day pass are underpriced.

The Bay TPO board will vote on the rate hike shortly after the public comment meeting ends — at its 3:30 p.m. meeting today inside the Bay County Government Center.

When voting, the Bay TPO board has the option to alter the amount of the rate increase based on its preference or the comments made at last week’s meeting.

“They may decide to make a change to it before voting on it. It’s really just a proposal,” Keen said.

Keen said the reason for the second public comment meeting was because there was a mix-up on when the official Bay TPO board would meet; some thought it was last week. The second meeting ensures the public has proper opportunity to comment and ask questions.

PANAMA CITY— Locals will get one final shot to voice their opposition, or support, for the Bay Town Trolley rate hike.

A special public comment meeting will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the main branch of the Bay County Public Library on West 11th Street.

If the rate hike is approved, the one-day pass and the 31-day pass would increase in price substantially, but the single-ride rate would go unchanged — $1.50 regularly or 75 cents for students, seniors and those with disabilities.

Under the rate increase proposal, the one-day pass would increase from $3 to $5 and the 31-day pass would increase from $30 to $40. If passed, the rate hike would take effect Friday.

This is the Bay County Transportation Planning Organization’s (TPO) second public comment meeting on the rate hike. Eleven people came to one last week and the comments were mixed, said Gene Keen, chief administrative manager for the trolley.

“The general consensus was they understood the need for some increase, but they thought that the proposed increase was a little much and would like to see it not be quite so much, if at all,” he said.

Keen said he and Bay TPO staff were pleased with the number of people who came out because it’s more public participation than in the past.

Bay TPO staff has said the rate hike is necessary so the trolley won’t run a financial deficit. It also could ensure services aren’t cut.

“This is definitely a way to help the funding issues, but I also think there are very valid points on the part of the community on how it will affect them,” Keen said.

Keen, who only manages the trolley’s operations, said the general consensus among the Bay TPO staff is that the one-day pass and the 31-day pass are underpriced.

The Bay TPO board will vote on the rate hike shortly after the public comment meeting ends — at its 3:30 p.m. meeting today inside the Bay County Government Center.

When voting, the Bay TPO board has the option to alter the amount of the rate increase based on its preference or the comments made at last week’s meeting.

“They may decide to make a change to it before voting on it. It’s really just a proposal,” Keen said.

Keen said the reason for the second public comment meeting was because there was a mix-up on when the official Bay TPO board would meet; some thought it was last week. The second meeting ensures the public has proper opportunity to comment and ask questions.

Bay TPO staff and Keen will attend the public comment meeting.

BayCountyCommissioner Mike Nelson, who chairs the Bay TPO board, said he likely will vote for the rate hike. He doesn’t want the trolley to drain public coffers and said there are fewer grants available now that the state and federal governments are cutting back.

“I know it’s a hardship for people, but you can’t run this thing in the red; it’s got to be in the black,” he said. “You know we’re just going to probably have to charge more to make it pay for itself.”

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